“Don’t fire unless fired upon, but if they mean to have a war, let it begin here” John parker “Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom must, like men, undergo the fatigue of supporting it.” Thomas Paine “Remember officers and Soldiers that you are free men, fighting for the blessings of Liberty” George Washington “The die is now cast; the colonies must either submit or triumph....” King George III “With that freedom of language and sentiment which becomes a free people claiming their rights as derived from the laws of nature” – Thomas Jefferson “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness." Thomas Jefferson
Memo To Congress After years and years of ignoring the great and influential American Revolutionary War, it is finally the time to recognize it and memorialize it in a way that everyone can see and respect. It is time for a memorial in honor of this great event to be placed on the National Mall with many other memorials of its kind. This war was very important in the freedom of our country and even though this freedom is depicted in many other ways, a memorial needs to be set in place. This Revolutionary War was so significant because it gave freedom to the United States. It was significant because we finally stood up to the British and didn’t just stand there and let them push us around. It was America showing the strength and the will-power to succeed and become a free nation that leads us to a great victory and in turn, the countries freedom. The memorial starts out with an enclosed tunnel made of dark marble to represent how confined we were in our views, how confined we were within the views and stereotypes others imposed on us and how confined in actual land area we were. The floor, ceiling and walls of the tunnel is lined with words and quotes that change from early war to later in the war as one moves towards the center of the memorial. These quotes are from high ranking officials, members of the colonies, the soldiers and average citizens. The marble used to make the tunnel begins to get lighter and lighter until a white marble appears. This gradient of colors shows the evolution gone through during the war and the better and better certain conditions became for those involved. The tunnel opens up to a large enclosed circle area that has a garden in it and is surrounded by a pristine, white marble wall with the word freedom inscribed onto it. This open area is to show how after the confinement, represented here by the tunnel, there is a light, both literally and figuratively, at the end where there is an open space to show that there is finally freedom in the United States. There is also only one entrance to the garden area and that is through the tunnel. This is because without the struggle and the determination of the colonies there would be no freedom, and in the end no light. Without passing through the tunnel one would not be able to grasp the events leading to freedom. So visitors must pass through the tunnel to arrive at the garden. Then once arriving at the garden visitors will take the exit. But there is no entering through the exit. Marble is being used along with plants in the garden. Marble was chosen because it is very pristine and stays fairly clean and the memorial needs the white marble to stay clean and beautiful to really enhance the visitor's experience once they exit the tunnel into the open area. This white will project a light and a beautiful glow even if a visitor is there during night hours. The memorial can be more powerful if entered and exited during the day time so that after a darkened tunnel one can come out into a lighted area. At night the walls will be lit, but natural light makes the effect more powerful. The plants in the garden will change with season, but many flowers will be included in many different colors to show that there was diversity within the people involved in this new time of freedom and not only with the people, but with the culture and beliefs. A fountain will be placed in the garden instead of an American flag. A fountain is being used because the garden is not meant to be interpreted only as the result of the American Revolution but as the result of all struggles for democracy and freedom. It is meant to have an open feeling and with the fountain there will be more light throughout the surrounding circle. This memorial isn’t meant to, nor does it, highlight the specific people who died because if we were to highlight those people we would have to depict both Americans and Britain’s because controversy would arise if not both sides were included. Also although many other memorials seen on the mall do include names of soldiers or those deceased or even sculptures of the soldiers this memorial is meant to speak through its quotes and light at the end of the tunnel. This allows each visitor, even those without connection in their ancestry to the war can feel something and pay their respects to a greater concept and a greater event that is not solely depicted through those that were lost in the time. This memorial is not focusing on any specific events besides the end of the war symbolizing freedom. The memorial encompasses the overall sense of confinement and then making the journey and going through hard times to get to freedom. This war had many separate battles all centered around separate views and it was decided that instead of trying to cover so much that it would be simpler to just show a broader view of the whole war and the end point which all of the separate pieces strived for which was freedom, Inside the garden there are benches for people to sit but this memorial is not meant for eating or conversation. This memorial is meant for reflection, although it will be expected of visitors to reflect in a manner that will not disturb others. The visitors are free to roam that garden as long as they like. They can even spend as much time in the tunnel if they choose to. It is not expected that all visitors will be silent but it is expected that visitors will be respectful and be there to reflect upon the war and mourn the loss of people of our countries and the ancestors of the families who live in the country now. The benches make it so that people are able to reflect in any way they chose, possibly writing, drawing or just sitting and looking. The monument will be placed next to the Washington monument because George Washington was a great pioneer for freedom. The placement of the memorial is strategic so that people will be able to relate multiple feelings about freedom through multiple monuments that are close in proximity. While walking around the vicinity of the memorial visitors will feel like they need to enter it before moving on. Almost like it is the next step after the surrounding memorials. When they exit they move onto the next part in American history. There is possible expected controversy from the British who will come to visit because there are is a certain depiction with the tunnel of some of the confinement which was caused largely by the British themselves. The way that we are trying to avoid these controversies is by not making it obvious that any part of the tunnel is against them. This is being done by using the quotes inside the tunnel to depict the positives of the war from the American side, but not against the opposite side of the British. This memorial will be established to allow for many people for generations and generations into the future to come and reflect on the success of the country and also reflect on why the country is what it is today.
Sources
Nash, Gary B. "The Social and Intellectual Legacy of the American Revolution." Www.gilderlehrman.org. N.p., n.d. Web.
American Revolutionary War
Sarah McCroskey and Haley Steffens
MODEL OF MEMORIAL
Examples of possible quotes for inside tunnel
“Don’t fire unless fired upon, but if they mean to have a war, let it begin here” John parker
“Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom must, like men, undergo the fatigue of supporting it.” Thomas Paine
“Remember officers and Soldiers that you are free men, fighting for the blessings of Liberty” George Washington
“The die is now cast; the colonies must either submit or triumph....” King George III
“With that freedom of language and sentiment which becomes a free people claiming their rights as derived from the laws of nature” – Thomas Jefferson
“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness." Thomas Jefferson
Memo To CongressAfter years and years of ignoring the great and influential American Revolutionary War, it is finally the time to recognize it and memorialize it in a way that everyone can see and respect. It is time for a memorial in honor of this great event to be placed on the National Mall with many other memorials of its kind. This war was very important in the freedom of our country and even though this freedom is depicted in many other ways, a memorial needs to be set in place. This Revolutionary War was so significant because it gave freedom to the United States. It was significant because we finally stood up to the British and didn’t just stand there and let them push us around. It was America showing the strength and the will-power to succeed and become a free nation that leads us to a great victory and in turn, the countries freedom.
The memorial starts out with an enclosed tunnel made of dark marble to represent how confined we were in our views, how confined we were within the views and stereotypes others imposed on us and how confined in actual land area we were. The floor, ceiling and walls of the tunnel is lined with words and quotes that change from early war to later in the war as one moves towards the center of the memorial. These quotes are from high ranking officials, members of the colonies, the soldiers and average citizens. The marble used to make the tunnel begins to get lighter and lighter until a white marble appears. This gradient of colors shows the evolution gone through during the war and the better and better certain conditions became for those involved. The tunnel opens up to a large enclosed circle area that has a garden in it and is surrounded by a pristine, white marble wall with the word freedom inscribed onto it. This open area is to show how after the confinement, represented here by the tunnel, there is a light, both literally and figuratively, at the end where there is an open space to show that there is finally freedom in the United States. There is also only one entrance to the garden area and that is through the tunnel. This is because without the struggle and the determination of the colonies there would be no freedom, and in the end no light. Without passing through the tunnel one would not be able to grasp the events leading to freedom. So visitors must pass through the tunnel to arrive at the garden. Then once arriving at the garden visitors will take the exit. But there is no entering through the exit.
Marble is being used along with plants in the garden. Marble was chosen because it is very pristine and stays fairly clean and the memorial needs the white marble to stay clean and beautiful to really enhance the visitor's experience once they exit the tunnel into the open area. This white will project a light and a beautiful glow even if a visitor is there during night hours. The memorial can be more powerful if entered and exited during the day time so that after a darkened tunnel one can come out into a lighted area. At night the walls will be lit, but natural light makes the effect more powerful. The plants in the garden will change with season, but many flowers will be included in many different colors to show that there was diversity within the people involved in this new time of freedom and not only with the people, but with the culture and beliefs. A fountain will be placed in the garden instead of an American flag. A fountain is being used because the garden is not meant to be interpreted only as the result of the American Revolution but as the result of all struggles for democracy and freedom. It is meant to have an open feeling and with the fountain there will be more light throughout the surrounding circle.
This memorial isn’t meant to, nor does it, highlight the specific people who died because if we were to highlight those people we would have to depict both Americans and Britain’s because controversy would arise if not both sides were included. Also although many other memorials seen on the mall do include names of soldiers or those deceased or even sculptures of the soldiers this memorial is meant to speak through its quotes and light at the end of the tunnel. This allows each visitor, even those without connection in their ancestry to the war can feel something and pay their respects to a greater concept and a greater event that is not solely depicted through those that were lost in the time.
This memorial is not focusing on any specific events besides the end of the war symbolizing freedom. The memorial encompasses the overall sense of confinement and then making the journey and going through hard times to get to freedom. This war had many separate battles all centered around separate views and it was decided that instead of trying to cover so much that it would be simpler to just show a broader view of the whole war and the end point which all of the separate pieces strived for which was freedom,
Inside the garden there are benches for people to sit but this memorial is not meant for eating or conversation. This memorial is meant for reflection, although it will be expected of visitors to reflect in a manner that will not disturb others. The visitors are free to roam that garden as long as they like. They can even spend as much time in the tunnel if they choose to. It is not expected that all visitors will be silent but it is expected that visitors will be respectful and be there to reflect upon the war and mourn the loss of people of our countries and the ancestors of the families who live in the country now. The benches make it so that people are able to reflect in any way they chose, possibly writing, drawing or just sitting and looking.
The monument will be placed next to the Washington monument because George Washington was a great pioneer for freedom. The placement of the memorial is strategic so that people will be able to relate multiple feelings about freedom through multiple monuments that are close in proximity. While walking around the vicinity of the memorial visitors will feel like they need to enter it before moving on. Almost like it is the next step after the surrounding memorials. When they exit they move onto the next part in American history.
There is possible expected controversy from the British who will come to visit because there are is a certain depiction with the tunnel of some of the confinement which was caused largely by the British themselves. The way that we are trying to avoid these controversies is by not making it obvious that any part of the tunnel is against them. This is being done by using the quotes inside the tunnel to depict the positives of the war from the American side, but not against the opposite side of the British.
This memorial will be established to allow for many people for generations and generations into the future to come and reflect on the success of the country and also reflect on why the country is what it is today.
Sources
Nash, Gary B. "The Social and Intellectual Legacy of the American Revolution." Www.gilderlehrman.org. N.p., n.d. Web.
<http://www.gilderlehrman.org/history-by-era/war-for-independence/essays/social-and-intellectual-legacy-american-revolution >.
Osgood, Herbert L. "The American Revolution." JSTOR. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Nov. 2012.
< http://www.jstor.org/stable/2140003 >
JUDD, SYLVESTER. "More Facts concerning Our Revolutionary War." JSTOR. N.p., n.d. Web. 04 Nov. 2012.
< http://www.jstor.org/stable/27888428?seq=2 >.
"American Revolution." News, Journalism & Advertising. N.p., n.d. Web. 04 Nov. 2012.
< http://www.loc.gov/topics/content.php?subcat=5 >.
"Quotes About American Revolution." (39 Quotes). N.p., n.d. Web. 04 Nov. 2012.
< http://www.goodreads.com/quotes/tag/american-revolution >.